Another Day in Paradise

It is Monday morning. Charlie took the kids to school for me so that I could study a bit before heading to school myself. As I type, baby chickens pop their heads up to look at me over the edge of the trough they are living in across the room from the desk until they are old enough to move outside. Thankfully, they are not escaping to chase the dogs today. Hopper spent 20 minutes guarding one under the trough yesterday before I realized what she was doing and put little Empire back. She finds the job necessary as Wyatt's dog, but she could do without the chickens.

My husband turns 41 today. After 14 years together, two children and all of these animals, mornings are a little harder than they used to be. I don't believe either one of us can truly grasp what all we have undertaken in the last 13 years of marriage. I suppose we should have expected it when Bailey arrived right before our first anniversary. Workouts, nutrition, and weight management were much easier in those days. Now we find ourselves working at it more and more each year.

I started my day at 4:30- although not very willingly. When the alarm went off, I hit the snooze button, but the dogs had another idea. I tried to ignore them, but lost the battle. I shivered my way to the front door to let them out, then got dressed and came to the office to put some boxes together to mail. I really want Heather to get the Take Flight set in her hands with enough time for me to change the writeups if she needs me to. We had a late night after dinner out with Charlie's Dad and dessert with his Mom, Dad, Bunky and Uncle Steve last night, so the kids were rather reluctant to roll out of bed at 5:45. At 6, I sent in Remington. I had spent 5 minutes calling Vegas to come in for breakfast. I think it took the first four before he realized he was being called for food, then he suddenly came running. Just like the old 14 year of wolf-mutt to do his own thing.

Here I sit, blogging to the world instead of studying. As a point of information, though, I am partially waiting for the Pima web portals to open as I type. We have entered that stressful time known as the run up to county fair. Some of Wyatt's chickens will go out on April 16th, then Bailey has shooting sports competitions on the 17th and 18th. After that Bailey's animals and welding projects go out and we live there until the fair closes. Plus all of the Clover stuff. Then we come home and focus on final exams for the kids and I, and then life should be strangely quiet for the summer. Funny, to type it like that it seems so simple.

I started the morning with cottage cheese and blueberries. Charlie finds some amazing fruit out there. Good shopper, that boy. I eat very well these days. Still, I am struggling with the weight loss. In December, I got sick, and spent one day in bed. I woke up ten pounds heavier. The doctor ran several tests, but I am normal. My metabolism seems to have chosen to take yet another dive. The hour of exercises is no longer enough to maintain the healthy body weight I was accustomed to maintaining, if not being overly happy about. The wrinkles, the exhaustion, not so bad when tempered with this wild life I love to be a part of with Charlie and the kids. But the weight thing is slowing me down.

So after pouring over the recent research that says I just need to exercise more, I am trying to increase my strength training time and the cardio intensity. So next Monday, I plan to post an update of my training logs, with one hour of cardio- a minimum of 6 miles each day rather than 5, and three days of upper and lower body strength training. No one believes that fitness profesionals go through these trials. So I guess that makes me want to share this new road. We shall see, right? Wish me luck.

As for Charlie, he is hoping to return to exercise today after the last month of health challenges leading to last week's surgery. He is doing amazingly well and still looks very young for 41. There is some grey in is hair, but he earned it. We earn every day of this crazy life. And I am proud to do it with him. Happy birthday, Charlie! Here's to the next one.

More Newly Named Chickens...

In what has become a weekly tradition, Wyatt announced several names for the new chickens over the weekend. This time, all of the newly named were from the little bbies in the house. Allow us to introduce...

Nugget the Delaware pullet is at the top left. This name was suggested by Tyler C, age 11, of Tucson, Az. Delaware chickens are excellent dual purpose breed chickens, Nugget is already showing some of th black feathers that will add interet to her overall apearance as she grows up.

Diego the cuckoo cochin is on the right. This was another of the names suggested by a member of Mrs Endler's 2nd grade class. Cuckoo cochins grow up with feathered legs, which is why you see the dark fluffy area on her foot in the photo. She will eventually look like a big puuf ball with an arch to her tail. The cuckoo in her name suggests that she will have a very vaired coloration, with lots of spots. Should be fun to watch her grow!

In the photo on the left is Feathers. She is a cuckoo maran. The cuckoo means the same thing in fun colorin, but as a maran, feathers will grow up to lay beautiful dark brown eggs, almost the color of chocolate. Feathers has light colore feathers on her head, but is only a little over two weeks old. She will not begin laying eggs for us until she is about 5 months old. Feathers was also named by one of the members of Mrs Endler's 2nd grade class.

This is Chicken Little. She is the second of the two Delaware pullets. You can see the little black feathers f you look closely. While her name was suggested by a member of Mrs Endler's 2nd grade class, she earned her name by sneaking off into the meat chicken nursery area to cuddle with them instead of the laying babies.

Congratulations to all of you who proposed winning names. Due to the popularity of the contest, and the fact that there are more chickens who need names- the contest i being held over. Got an idea for a name? Send it in! Lokking for photos of the others to help suggest a name? Let us know!

My older sister is doing the Avon 2-Day walk for breast cancer in San Francisco. Cancer of all types have hit our family hard in the past several years, and despite being a single mother and police officer, she is taking on this walk. Pretty ambitious if you ask me!

Anyway, as you can tell, I am proud of her for digging so deep. As much as I would love to take on the challenge, the donations a participant commits to raise in an event like this have kept me at bay. To help in her effort, Patriot's Dream made the Take Flight Necklace and earrings set, which will be auctioned int he silent auction for her team fundraising. To help Heather's own goal, we are also offering a ten percent discount off your entire order to anyone who donates $25 or more. Just use the coupon code Take Flight at checkout, and I can check with her to validate the donation. How can you donate, you ask? Visit this link:

http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk/SanFrancisco?px=4801085&pg=personal&fr_id=1950

So please consider getting a few good Karma points to cash in. Make a charitable donation to help fight cancer, take the tax writeoff at the end of the year, and take the discount on the order of your choice at Patriot's Dream.

Introducing... New Names...

Today, we announce more new names for the new poultry friends at Patriot's Dream. We have had many suggestions from wonderful friends. Keep them coming! The are many more new friends still awaiting their new names.

Yago the Blue Andalusian (one of 3 Blue Andalusians new to Patriot's Dream)- submitted by Nick A, grade 6, of Tucson Az

Jalympics the Rhode Island Red (one of about 3 new Rhode Island Reds, this one with beautiful coppery edges to her hackle)- submitted by one of the members of Mrs Endler's 2nd grade class, Tucson, Az

Lady Liberty the Americauna. Miss Liberty is the youngest of the 3 or 4 Americaunas new to the farm. She is seen to the left here in Wyatt's arms after a nap there during a visit to sick bay- she cut her fot playing in the pen today. Her name was suggested by Kaleigh F, age 10, of Concord, Ca.

Cinnabar the Cinnamon Queen. She is the only Cinnamon Queen we have. Mama suggested this one! Can't believe he liked my suggestion!

This is Empire, one of the new Cochins that came home this week. Wyatt decided on her name this morning, without any outside suggestion. She is one of the smallest chicks in the nursery, but she knows what she wants- and gets it!

Canning and Preserves Workshop

On Sunday, March 14th, Mama and Bailey drove back to the Ag complex for a preserves and canning workshop for Bailey. On the docket for this day, was lemon bread, preserved lemons, lemon-orange marmalade, lemon curd and cooked salsa. We had a great time and learned so much!

March Madness Pygmy Goat Show

On Saturday, March 13th, all of the Patriot's Dream pygmy goats loaded up in the truck to go to Tucson. What were they up to? The Spring 4H and open pygmy goat shows! With Bailey spending more of this year on adjusting to 7th grade at her new school than breeding her goats, all of the goats she took along were in the senior classes.

Miss Rose did not much enjoy being shown apart from her friends in the three year old class, and will need more practice in group settings before county fair. She usually prefers one-on-one atention with Bailey, and found the showring a chance to show off her prankster side this day.

The other girls all found their way into the same group in the four and up age group. Treasure did not appreciate being last in the group and gave the judge the eye, as if to say she makes beautiful babies, so the judge's vew on this day will not change her self importance. Glory again took first in the group, and seemed to know her place from the moment she stepped into the show ring. Between the morning and afternoon shows, Jayda and Vital exchanged places in second and third, leaving fourth for the lone other doe in the class.

Huey spent his single time in the show ring looking for a doe he sensed to be in heat. Yup, that is Huey. He took second to an old friend from the same breeder, Mr Wiggings, who is very closely related to the Steely man we all miss here at Patriot's Dream.

It was a fun day, although all of the parents lamented the shrinking numbers of this fun 4H project. We celebrated with Strawberry Shortcake, and extra treats for the goaties. Bailey is now taking what she learned and preparing for Pima County Fair next month!

The First Group of Names Winners!

We have been getting some wonderful name ideas! This is the first group of winners...

Kirby the Americauna

Annie and Abby the Silver Laced Wyandottes

And Layna!

Congratulations to our first group of winners, Elizabeth Y, grade 7 of Tucson, and three members of Mrs Endler's 2nd grade class!

Name that Chicken Contest

So, you have been reading about our new arrivals lately. When this many new friends come all at once, it is really hard to name them all in a manner that celebrates the joy of each one. As I was trying to tell a few apart this afternoon, I joked to Wyatt that he should post a name that chicken contest on the website. We could offer up a few eggs or some lip gloss or soap or other items to anyone that gave us a name that he wanted to use.

A little while later, Wyatt came in from collecting eggs and checking on everyone before the next storm came in, and he said- the contest is on! I should know better by now than to tell my little cowboy anything. It usualy comes back to haunt me!

For any of you who do not know, we ended up with the first of these chickens in a similar manner. Bailey had been raising goats in 4H for a year when Wyatt ended up on duty at the pumpkin patch petting zoo with me. I said sure, I will help with anything but the chickens. Yup, we were assigned to the chicken area, where children were anxiously grabbing at the little feathered ones, and I had to get into chickens- and holding them- quick!

Wyatt began asking for chickens of his own, but like most Mamas, I figured I could wait him out and he would get past it. As it became a family joke, Wyatt kept on asking. I told him he had to take care of the dogs all year without me havng to remind him to keep the food bowl full. By the time the county fair came around in the spring, he was dragging me up and down he poultry isles while big sister was on barn duty. And he was also helping with the dogs' medications.

As the Clover Club leader, I had asked older youth to show their animal projects to the younger ones. Bailey took the kids into her goat pens. And a wonderful older boy set up a complete display of chickens, and even had handouts prepared! He was putting chickens in the children's hands when Wyatt asked what one was doing. The older boy looked over and said, "Oh, she is laying an egg for you all, let me put her back in her own cage so she can rest a minute." Oh, boy...

So when Wyatt's birthday came around, he brought home Sergeant Winger, followed by Pearl and Diamond, then Demon and Jewel. Two years later, Wyatt has 60 plus chickens, and participates in a weekly farmers market by the Santa Cruz River. He has rescued abandoned chickens, tamed some, and knows the unique personality of each one. These birds have helped him come out of his shy shell, participating in 4H and open shows with big sister Bailey. And though he doesn't like to admit it, he likes that he gets to learn with her. Then they can work together.

Boy, that was a long digression. Back to the contest! With all of these new animals, Wyatt is having a tough time giving each one a name worthy of the new friend. So we are reaching out to those of our friends who are creative and enthusiastic in this realm. Send us names!

You may propose as many names as you like. Send them in an email to info@ourpatriotsdream.com , along with your name, age if under 18, where you live, and how we can reach you with your prize! For those of you who are not local residents, we are sorry, but we cannot ship eggs as your prize. Good thing we make so many yummy jewelry and bath items!

Watch on the poultry page of the Patriot's Dream website for winning submisions, or here. Wyatt will select 2-4 names weekly, and will select the remaining ones by March 31st, so we can have all of the winners posted by April 1st! Find a link to the site on the right column of this blog. More reminders and details about the contest are available on the home page. Or feel free to send us questions!

By the way, feel free to use the response section of this blog to share your name ideas with one another. We will soon have the best named flock in Tucson!!! Happy naming!

More New Friends at Patriot's Dream

Jada the pygmy goat is looking in on ten new additions which came in late last night. The new chickens are in the pen where they will stay separate from our flock for a while as they adjust to our little home and their new surroundings, keeping everyone safe and healthy. None of these new friends have a name yet. Would you like to suggest one? There are Americaunas, a Buff Orpington, Silver Laced Wyandottes, a Rhode Island Red and one we are still trying to determine. I think I see a naming contest coming!!!

Wyatt's Saturday Cake Decorating Fair Practice

Wyatt had his last round of cake decorating practice today. At the next meeting, the group will decorate their projects for Pima Couty Fair. In the beginning of the year, fair seems so far away, now it is right around the corner! Wyatt made these three cookies on the left, decorated with chickens.

Wyatt did a base coat on his cake to look like the sky. Then he used a toothpick to outline the line between the ground and the sky. He used cookie cutters to set the shapes for the chickens.

After using a cool grass tip to make the grass, Wyatt put in the chickens. He later decided the fair cake will need a smaller star tip for the beak. These chickens could double as ducks!

These were cupcakes done with extra large stars.

When all else fails, eat the evidence! Wyatt is having a great time. Meanwhile, Bailey was off working on her welding project with Robbie. Watch here to see how the new heavy duty goat stanchion turns out!

New Additions

At a poultry workshop this week, Wyatt won some new chicks. As he wanted to raise a few more so they would grow up together to go in with the main flock, he brought home 2 one week old Delaware chicks on Friday, along with two one week old Blue Andalusian chicks (top left photo). Additionally, we brought home 2 2-3 week old Blue Andalusians (cuddling, top right) with their little friends one white leghorn named kicker, and one Americauna named Ari (bottom right.)

Bailey brought home four Cornish Cross chickens to begin working on her meat pens for Pima County Fair. More of these to come soon (we hope). Those are pictured bottom center.

After settling them into the temporary poultry nursery area in the house, Wyatt and Remington Pups hung out together by Daddy to let him know they were glad he was home from TDY. And glad to be done with a crazy week!